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As Nepal prepares for its March 5 parliamentary elections, both the United States and China have recalled their ambassadors from Kathmandu.  Chinese Ambassador Chen Song is returning to Beijing this week, marking the end of his tenure as China’s 22nd ambassador to Nepal. Chen assumed office on January 8, 2023, during a period of active engagement between Kathmandu and Beijing, particularly in areas of infrastructure development, connectivity, and political cooperation. Before his departure, Ambassador Chen paid courtesy calls on Prime Minister Sushila Karkiand other senior government officials. The Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu hosted a farewell reception on Sunday, December 21, in his honor. In his farewell remarks, Ambassador Chen said he had developed a deep emotional connection with Nepal and its people during his posting. “Before I came to Nepal, I was a supporter of China–Nepal relations. Three years later, I can proudly say that I have become a lifelong friend of the Nepalese and Chinese people,” he said. Meanwhile, the United States has also recalled its ambassador to Nepal, as part of a broader reshuffling of U.S. diplomatic personnel under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy framework. According to the Associated Press, nearly 30 career diplomats have been recalled from ambassadorial and senior embassy posts worldwide as Washington seeks to realign its diplomatic corps with the administration’s priorities. Africa has been the most affected region, with ambassadors recalled from 13 countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda, according to Politico. The Asia-Pacific region follows, with diplomatic changes affecting six countries: Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Additional recalls have taken place in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. In South Asia, both Nepal and Sri Lanka are among the countries affected by the U.S. diplomatic changes. The U.S. Ambassador to Nepal, Ambassador Thompson, arrived in Kathmandu in 2022. Prior to his posting, he served as Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, where he oversaw U.S. policy toward the region. A member of the Senior Foreign Service, he has more than 25 years of experience in U.S. diplomacy.